Alternately did the

"Swift blood flush and fail,"

as he advanced; and the very intensity of her expectation gave a coldness to her expression, and a stiffness to her manner; he arrived close to their carriage, and dismounting, gave his horse to his groom, and then kissing his hand gaily to them, passed on to the next carriage, and entering it, was soon wholly engrossed by two lively girls.

"Alas," thought Teresa, "we poor women play a desperate game in staking all we possess on the hazard of man's fidelity; but this theme of inconstancy is a hacknied and sickening subject!" She could not easily forget the look which this poor, disappointed girl cast at her sister, nor the tenderness of that sister's responding glance; blessed, blessed tie-oh! the comfortable consolation of a sympathising sister!

As the Derbys' carriage was leaving the course to return home, a poney-phaeton drove rapidly past, and the gentleman driving it, kissed his hand to Mrs. Derby. Teresa had been admiring the

beauty of the spirited little ponies as they advanced, and as the carriage passed she glanced at its inmates they consisted of Lady Sedley and her son. This was indeed an unexpected meeting for poor Teresa, and concealing her agitation, she asked the little girls the name of the gentleman in the phaeton, and whether he lived in that neighbourhood. She discovered, from their answers, that his estate was not more than a mile distant from Plover's Cliff, (the name of Mr. Derby's property), and that the two families were very intimate. This information determined Teresa to avoid all chance of a meeting with Sedley, by resolutely refusing to appear any more in public, but the knowledge of his vicinity effectually banished her late peace of mind.

The newspapers at this period were teeming with an event, which, however, came not to Teresa's ears; she never, by any chance, looked at a paper, and the seclusion in which she lived prevented her hearing what was so much the subject of conversation.

The young, handsome, elegant Sir Edward

St. John had fled to France after the duel with Sedley, and his fortune and agreeable manners had caused him to be universally courted there. But, unhappily, he was detected in the act of using some unfair advantage at cards, and, in a fit of despair, at the disgrace attending the discovery, he shot himself.

His connections in England were high and numerous, and this melancholy event caused a great sensation in the fashionable world.

But she who was most interested in the event, remained in profound ignorance of it; and gradually the memory of it died away, and it ceased to be discussed.

About this same period, Teresa's destiny was considerably ameliorated by an addition to the Derby family, in the person of a niece of Mrs. Derby's.

Catherine Brand was the only person who knew how to manage her aunt, and Mrs. Derby paid almost a deference to her opinions. She had been very handsome, but was somewhat faded, yet possessed surprising powers of fascina

tion. She was a strange compound of faults and virtues, yet it was impossible not to love her. Her mind was a fruitful soil, which, had she fallen into good hands, might have produced a noble and consistent character; but, as it was, the weeds and flowers had sprung up together. She was an orphan, and had no relations living, with the exception of a married sister and her aunt, Mrs. Derby. From the moment of her arrival, which was hailed with delight by the young people, everything went on more smoothly. Mr. Derby was not scolded quite so much by his wife, and the children were less restrained in their amusements. Catherine's spirit was high, and, possessing an independent fortune, she had no idea of submitting to her aunt's caprices. Her temper was violent and irritable, but her frowns were always speedily chased by her smiles, and her lively sallies rendered her the idol of the young people.

Catherine Brand saw at a glance the superiority of Teresa, and was enchanted with her graceful manners and her classical style of

beauty; she soon observed that Teresa was not happy, and her generous heart rose indignantly against the contemptuous treatment she experienced. Teresa was naturally warm and affectionate in her feelings, and she met the kind advances of her new friend with delighted gratitude; but Catherine could never draw her from her school-room, and she sedulously shunned all chance of encountering Sedley. Catherine regretted this much, for she was always enthusiastic in her friendships, and she felt that Teresa had only to appear-to captivate every beholder. But Teresa remained firm to her resolution.